What We Really Own in Christ

Have you ever thought about all you own as a child of God? Has it ever occurred to you that when you accepted Jesus you became an heir of the God of all creation? Do you realize what you truly possess as God’s child? That’s what this sermon asks. And that’s what this sermon will tell you this evening.

Look with me at just a few verses that declare the reality of being God’s child and God’s heir of all things:

James 2:5 (ESV) Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?

Galatians 4:7 (ESV) So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Romans 8:16–17 (ESV) 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

John MacArthur says, “All believers share equally in God’s most important and valuable provisions and glories.” [1] Isn’t that an awesome thought!

In writing to the Corinthian believers, Paul basically says the same thing. He tells them that what is really important in life is not who they know but whose you are!!

1 Corinthians 3:21–23 (ESV) 21 So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23 and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

As God’s children we possess equally all that the Father owns and all He has to give us in Christ. [[In verse 22 >> Bible]], Paul said, all are yours. All things, in the NKJV.

I. We have Sonship, 1 John 3:1-3

1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

How did we become the children of God?

A. Not by natural birth

John 1:12–13 (ESV) 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

· Not by blood

· Not by will or sheer determination

· Not by the will of man

B. By the New Birth

John 3:3 (ESV) Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

1. Entered by the Regeneration of the Holy Spirit, Titus 3:5 (ESV)

He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

2. Enjoyed by the Adoption of the Holy Spirit, Romans 8:15 (ESV)

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

II. We have Security,

· A Present Security

John 5:24 (ESV) Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment but has passed from death to life.

Hebrews 9:12 (ESV) He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.

· A Peculiar Security

Titus 2:14 (NKJV) Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

· A Preserved Security

1 Peter 1:4 (NKJV) to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

· A Persuasive Security

2 Timothy 1:12 (NKJV) For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.

Romans 8:38–39 (NKJV) 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

III. We have Service

2 Corinthians 5:18–20 (NKJV) 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.

Again, John MacArthur says, God has called believers to proclaim the gospel of reconciliation to others. The concept of service, such as waiting on tables, derives from the Greek word for “ministry.” Literally, God wants Christians to accept the privilege of serving unbelievers by proclaiming a desire to be reconciled.[2]

Conclusion:

We have Sonship. We have Security. We have Service.

[1] John MacArthur Jr., ed., The MacArthur Study Bible, electronic ed. (Nashville, TN: Word Pub., 1997), 1733.

[2] John MacArthur Jr., ed., The MacArthur Study Bible, electronic ed. (Nashville, TN: Word Pub., 1997), 1772.

Related Media

Related Sermons